In a pair of new studies, researchers found that older adults who challenge themselves to learn new things are less likely to experience loneliness or depression, even during times of major upheaval.

The authors found a connection between continued skill learning and improved mental health during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the long-term value of cognitive engagement for older people and preparing for unexpected change, they said.

“Learning can be difficult and uncomfortable in the short-term. But that short-term discomfort actually helps protect us in the long run,” said University of California- Riverside psychologist and study author Rachel Wu, PhD.

The work, published as two studies, looked at how people of different ages adjusted to the pandemic. The first study included two groups: one with participants ages 19 and older, and another with adults ages 50 and above.

In both cases, participants reported how much time they spent learning new skills during the pandemic, and how their well-being changed over the course of a year. “People who were actively learning fared better in terms of mental health outcomes, especially older adults who might otherwise have been more vulnerable to isolation and stress,” said lead author Lilian Azer.

Those outcomes included self-reported levels of depression, loneliness, and overall well-being. The studies also asked participants to rate their own memory, focus, and daily decision-making abilities.

The benefits of learning were not immediate. Participants who challenged themselves didn’t necessarily feel happier in the moment. But a year later, they reported greater resilience to external stressors than peers who had not spent time learning new things.

With formal learning environments shut down, participants had to self-direct their skill-building, including picking up new hobbies and navigating online tools. Those who kept learning, even without structure or support, tended to report better mental health later on.

A separate study looked at people over age 58 who had spent time learning digital photography, drawing, or languages before the pandemic hit. When compared with a similar group of peers who hadn’t participated in the structured learning intervention prior to the pandemic, the learners fared better emotionally.

“You want to have the machinery of learning dusted off, so it works when you need it,” Wu said. “You don’t want to wait until you have to learn something in a crisis,” she said. “Seek out challenges. Keep growing. That’s how you stay ready.”

To download the study, published in PLOS Mental Health, click here